Aritry’s death: Viqarunnisa students call off protest after assurances from teachers

Students from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College have called off their protests over the death of Aritry Adhikary after receiving assurances from teachers that their demands would be met.

The students called off the protest at 5pm on Wednesday and said they would return to classes and sit for their exams.

Anushka Roy, a spokesperson for the protestors, told the media:

A student holding a placard takes part in the third day of protests at the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College on Dhaka’s Bailey Road over the death of class nine student Aritry Adhikary on Thursday. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

“The teachers have assured us that they will slowly implement all of our demands. So we will now return to our classes.”

“We have also received assurances that the legal matters will be handled by the law.”

Anushka called on all students to return to class from Friday.

Class nine student Aritry Adhikary committed suicide after her parents were allegedly called to the school and were humiliated. Students and guardians began their protest of the incident in front of the school on Tuesday.

Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Governing Body President Golam Ashraf Talukdar begs for forgiveness over the death of student Aritry Adhikary in front of the media on Thursday. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

A student holding a placard takes part in the third day of protests at the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College on Dhaka’s Bailey Road over the death of class nine student Aritry Adhikary on Thursday. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

The Ministry of Education moved swiftly after Aritry’s death, forming a probe into the incident, firing three teachers, including the acting principal, and scrapped their MPOs.

Protesters said on Thursday that they would call off the protest if the governing body tendered their resignations and an apology was issued to Aritry’s parents on behalf of the school administration.

Governing Body President Golam Ashraf Talukdar told journalists at 1:30pm that he begged the forgiveness of Aritry’s parents.

He agreed to resign if it would serve the greater interest of the school.

The students continued their protests after his remarks. A group of teachers then came to speak to the protesters around 2:30pm. Some of the teachers were seen in tears alongside the students.

At one point they took the protesters inside the main gates.

The students announced the protest would be called off after speaking to the teachers.

Another group of students held a demonstration afterwards, claiming that teacher Hasna Hena was ‘blameless’ in the incident.